99 Colombian Guerrillas Surrender Arms Amid Political Shift

In mid‑June, 99 guerrilla fighters were flown by helicopter to a rural settlement in southern Colombia. They lined up and handed over rifles, pistols, machine guns and grenade launchers to government officials. The fighters also removed their tactical vests, field packs and camouflage uniforms, which were burned in a bonfire to symbolize a new life away from armed conflict. Their surrender followed the Petro government’s ‘total peace’ plan, but came just days before hard‑liner Abelardo De la Espriella assumed power. The fighters now find themselves in legal limbo as the new administration’s stance on former combatants remains unclear. The event marks a rare public step toward ending a conflict that has claimed nearly half a million lives over six decades.